Airbnb & Short-Term Rental Rules in Colorado Springs, CO (2026)

Colorado Springs, CO allows short-term rentals — commonly listed on platforms like Airbnb and VRBO — subject to local regulations that have evolved significantly since 2015. Hosts must register with the city (Short-Term Rental License) before listing their property. Colorado Springs regulates STRs to balance tourism revenue with neighborhood quality of life. Key rules cover primary residence requirements, nightly limits, occupancy caps, and tax collection obligations. Hosts who operate without required registration or in violation of city rules face substantial fines. Below are the current registration requirements, rules, platform-specific notes, and penalties for Colorado Springs.

Registration Requirements

Registration Required: Short-Term Rental License. Registration fee: $150. Annual renewal: $150 annually. Register through the Colorado Springs Planning and Community Development Department or Colorado Springs Planning and Community Development. Your registration number must be displayed on all platform listings. Failure to register before hosting is a violation subject to fines.

Operational Rules

Short-Term Rental Rules in Colorado Springs: 1. STR license required for all rentals of 30 days or fewer 2. License number must be displayed in all listings 3. Maximum occupancy: 2 guests per bedroom 4. Must comply with Colorado Springs noise ordinance 5. 24-hour contact required 6. Safety equipment required: smoke detectors, CO detectors 7. Colorado Springs Lodging Tax applies to STR rentals 8. Proximity to military installations does not change STR licensing requirements, but operators should note that military guests may have security restrictions on off-base accommodations

• •STR license required for all rentals of 30 days or fewer
• •License number must be displayed in all listings
• •Maximum occupancy: 2 guests per bedroom
• •Must comply with Colorado Springs noise ordinance
• •24-hour contact required
• •Safety equipment required: smoke detectors, CO detectors
• •Colorado Springs Lodging Tax applies to STR rentals
• •Proximity to military installations does not change STR licensing requirements, but operators should note that military guests may have security restrictions on off-base accommodations

Platform-Specific Rules

Platform-Specific Rules in Colorado Springs: Airbnb: Airbnb collects Colorado Springs Lodging Tax on qualifying rentals VRBO: VRBO collects Lodging Tax on qualifying rentals. License number required in all listings. Always verify current platform tax collection and remittance policies directly with your platform — these can change without advance notice to hosts.

Penalties for Violations

Penalties for STR Violations in Colorado Springs: $500–$2,000 per day for operating without license; $250–$1,000 per compliance violation; License revocation for repeat violations. Colorado Springs has enforcement mechanisms to identify unlicensed short-term rental listings on platforms. Hosts should ensure all registrations are current and listings display valid registration numbers.

• ⚠$500–$2,000 per day for operating without license
• ⚠$250–$1,000 per compliance violation
• ⚠License revocation for repeat violations

Frequently Asked Questions